Skeleton-tower structure.



ATENTED APR. 24, 1906,

No. 818,5l1.

R. L. ALLEN. SKELETUN TWER STRUCTU REi APPLICATION FILED IdAYl, 1905A 2 SHEETSA'SHET 2.

Qimmy RUBERTL. ALLEN, @ESX peccben nf Lamiera. 37mm-m15. Application am may 15. lama. s@ 'w1 11 No. 81mm.

of my improve its;

- legs 1li and the portions ofthe plate 'i tio parts of the tower and also enablingr the tower to he more quickly assembled while beine; erecto )i ltheugh in the erection of the lower the upper ends of these legs A are brought close tooethor, yet they are sepa 'ited or spaced ap t in the form of :in equieral triangle, and the apertures 5 of the plate 1. are siinilarlj,v spaced apart to receive and 'retain the up .er ends of the legs in the saine relation wit tout friction one with the other, thereby leavinga portion of the casting intervening between the openings 5 and uoper ends of the legis A for the reception of a elaniping-holt and washer 4, which will be p lsently described. lt is now clear that the axes of the openings 5 in the )late 1 are disposed an angle to each otier and coincident with the axes of their respective tubular immediately surrounding the tubes A are extended downwardly a considerable distance below the upper lace of the platefoif forming reinforcing-hubs 6, which tend "to reduce the sheari strains at .the junction of the plate l with their respective tubes. The Aplate i2 also consists of a one-piece metal casting, which inoiu'ited upon and secured to the top face of the plate 1 by clan'iping-bolts 7 and is provided with a series of--in this instance three hollow conical' hubs 8, which enter the up per 'ends of the openings and snugly lit within the expanded upyer ends of the legs il, so that when the pate Z is drawn downwardly bythe clamping-bolts 7 the cenical hubs or loosses 8 wedge into the flaring expanded ends of the'tuhnlar legs A, thereby' tending to further expand said Haring ends against the daring sides of the :upper end of the openings 5,' it is vtherefore apparent that when this' plate 2 is rigidly clamped in place the expanded ehds of the legs A are inipinged between the conical bosses 8 and Walls of the openings 5, thereby' firmly locking the plates 1 and to the expanded ends ol' the legs fa. Unc of the important features of this manner of securing-the upper ends of .the tubular legs together is that it avoids any buckling or eccentric strains upon the legs,

:which may thereforel he niade of comparar` tively thin l g'ht metal.

V.il/he cianiping-bolts 7 for fastening the plates 1 and together yare passedthrough apertures in `radially-proi ecting 'flanges at vertices of the plates at the outside of the hubs jl, and. one of the important advantages of the use of these bolts is that Athe heads engage the lower faces of the plate 1. and entend upwardly through. said 'plates soins distance above the upper face of the plate 2, which is preferably fiat horizontally, the upper ends of said bolts being threaded 'and receive loclreiiuts 9, which engage the tcp face of th plate 2. rif'he u1 ends of these bolts, which project some distance above the loclcnuts, constitute studs tor receiving vau conical hubs 8 into trie V rious kinds of superstructures, such as an insulator B, (shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1,) such superstructure being` held in position by additional clamping-nuts 1i), which are engaged with the upper ends of the bolts 7. ll d'o not wish, however, to limit myselfto the use of insulators, as niany other devices not herein necessary to mention may be anplied to the upper ends of the bolts 7 and secured by the nuts 1G without loosening the nuts 9 or any of the parts by which the `upper ends of the tubular legs are clamped together.

The 'plates 1 and 2 are formed with. central apertures 11 and 12, which are alined with each other vertically and receive the bolt 3. This bolt is therefore located substantially midway between the upper ends of the tubular legs A, and its upper end is usually threaded and Jrovided with an adj sting-nut 13, while its ower end is provided with a head 14, upon which the washer 4 rests, said washer Ybeing therefore located between the head 11i' and under side of the plate 1, leav ing clearance for the vertical adjustment of the washer. rlhis washer, as hest seen in Fand 11, is substantially triangular' in form and provided witheurved bearingv faces which have `sliding` engagement with the inner adjacent faces of the tubular legs A, so that by screwing the nuti3 in one direction this washer is wedged upwardly be tween and against the adjacent faces of the legs A, thereby tending to screed them laterally and firmly iinpinging taern within their respective socirets or openings 5, thus estabn lifshin a means for taking up any imperfect fit or ost motion of the legs in ythe sockets 5, and. at the same time further wedgin@r the the expanded ends or said legs. l

It Will be observed that the plates 1 ,and 2 `are not only clamped together upon the expanded endsfof the lees A at each vertex .of the triangle, hut are rurtherclainped at the center by the bolt 3 and washer 4.., On account of'the height of these towers it is necessary to make the legs in sections, which sections are clamped together end to end by suitable clamps or fastening means 16, as best seen in Figs. 1, 7, and 8 andare braced at suitable intervals throughout their height -by transverse or horizontal frames 17. (Best seen in Figs. 5 and 6.)

The tower is preferably huilt in the factory `in sections of suitable length to reduce the cost of manufacture and-facilitate and expe dite the Werl; of setting it up on the ground, and therefore the joints or meeting ends of the tubular legs are Drought inl substantially the same horizontal plane when the tower is A completed.

The 'meeting ends of the leg-sections are expanded and brought close together, and the means for fastening them in this relation preferably lconsists of an inner bushing '18,

Ico

and et giezitef engt'n than the Veste" inner in mite/1' ceiizirs i9, une im expanded emi et the ieg-seetiezxs emi oste eiempingseetions 2U and 2i, which eiigitge opposite et ieg s ine/lese the eeiims 19 und Me time i; temete-ei ivy i weils eelt 22 inici nuts The umm.' bushing imiew lempiig-seetions 20 :mii 2li te' avoid budding e1. eempi'essien up@A its :mier ieg-sections wiiieii Weuid se :meie lia-'sie te eeeu ii the eeiespeiiding mais :if th.. imiei bushing 18 and enter sleeve "l'ms i tei'il'- netted im. ti'ie si me he u 'ipisses. v

" @dem with ieu'bie l 5 against the s of the. it 'seing 'und eiesei' eenefanrfeees 241, s meer 0i? the ev ses tm the indias/ut e out its entire leeg twisting' biieki im@ ei- T in e 'measiii'e eijg'st time. oi' sind ieg-eef my The ends el? the prfwidefi 'ifiitiei'is 25 i idwise stieins iie upper lowes s :irre beveieii and the id 'li :we pmvicieti with similm i-eevf'rieii siieiiiiiei's Effi, which the beveled surfaces et the eeiis's L9, that eetieiis l0 :mii 'e iiimt'ii t0- te better i' upon th e mi mi :if edges 0i these (mi ,i :wie i A towel-.zi wie" etize anni smilie-ees 241 et the 'ifusiiiixe that the eismpii *mutiert* 2i) and Zi let eniy rve te held the im ing ends 0i the ieg-se s m peril-.et eiuleiuent, out aise 0pii medium et the @ouais i9 n is toward @sich @the rigid :mii pemzinent eer@ ferming a mere nenti mi;

1Z0 mid .1 :are sub- 7 except that the section, h upper emi iev/ei pairs ei ems imm'. iitiihie apertures; 'foi' ieeeiying the thi-em@ ends ei the' U--siiepe boit 2? 'se that t, f si' pmt ef the U- shape i. 22 fits spam :imi engages the pi,- riphey el" the. secties. 24), While the ends Gi the beit me isset! through tile apertures in the sect i 2i mui are engaged by the mits L3, Wiiieh imam Meinst the section 21., thereby drawing' said seetieris tirmiy against opposite sides fr] the tiibiiim etimis il? and moliere, 39.

'iiie horiz/.estati 4 :meg iiames er decks if? triangular in eii'tiiie and with twii vrtices a the ixineiifrtces et 'y u legs A. end. peiepiftbiy eerisist et a st :miti

` eeiviug and. supporting the pistes 3i im" seeming' the converging ends oi the "bes 3() to each ethei, Comer-pistes 32, which are seemed by boits 33 te the pilates 31, and ij-shape demping-belts Se, which are 'fitted upon the eu tei', 0i the tubular ings A and seemed to ,the pistes it Wiii be seen apen ieiiei'eiiee to Fig. 6 that the eifeiisr poition exthe boit Bri-end outer end si the piatte 32 opposite iaees of the tif-,biliar ieg i in neariy the same 'horizonte-i piane, oi, mtiief, in the same diemetricai piene ei the ieg ja, theieby avoiding short which are more ei iess liabie to cause ein' sioi es buckling et the legs by the Vibration si the towel".

The plates 3i .imiizontaiiy end we peimmientiy seemed t0 the Het top feces et the angiwbes 3() by ii'vets el' seits 35 and serve as Si means for re- 32, which in this me seemed te the top faces of the pietes 3i. sie each piovided with speitu'ieii eas 'for receiving the ends of the `mit 34k, ooit being piovided 'with nuts 37, engaging the inner ems oiliugs 3, and therebydmwing the curved or'eireuiar pertion et the boit against the outer fece of the ieg A and et the seme time forcing the Datei' concave emi of the plate 32 against the opposite e1' inner face ef the ieg 'Forming the iigid connection, whereby the b'aeing iTame el: deck is heid in its adjusted osition.

'have new descibeci the 't )ree important 'festin-es of 'my invention-yin a cap or ineens for seeming the upper expended ends ei' the legs mici hoidingjthem in seperated fixed i'eizitm y the li'ieens for damping' the eX- pziiiiezi i., ing ends of the iegsections t0- getii i.. thiid, the fer @racing the toeeifier iieizontsiiy-amd it will be 0bseived that when ail of 'the parte ae assembied in the marmer described the upper 'ends of the tubular legs are open and are subsee queutiy 'iiefi with conoi'ete, which is admitted in s iiquid or semiiiqui. state by pouring 'it iut-:n the upper ends of the tubes, thereby iiirti'iei reinforcing and. sti'feiiing the entire sin eture.

mg thus described my iiiventien, what claim, and desire to seeure' by Letters Pat ent,

ai s'keieten-tower structure of the eass descifii'ied, the combination of a plurality of iegs @emerging upwardly from the base tewerd the top a one-piece metal casting o'r piste having a series of apertures 'theretiiiough ene im each ieg iii-which said less bei upwmciiy, theieby temiiiig to spread the 0i' the und causing them te i tieneiiy engsge the weils et their respective apertures in the iilstmsmed plate.

this instance tinee-img1e-i ais Si), tie-plates are emxipiimtiyely broad.

the inner faces mi' IIO ln o skeleton tower ofthe character described, e series oi upright tubular converging toward the top end having` their` un per ends expended, e, plete having flaring openings one 'for each receiving seid eX- jiended ends, coi'iiriil hubs litting in seid expended Midsland ineens to secure seid hubs in operative position.

3. 1n e skeleton tower of the character de scribed, a series of tubular legis converging upwardly 'from the bottom, end having their upper ends expended, e plete having flaring openings receiving end fitting upon, said expended ends, e second plete having conical hubs fitting within seid expended ends, and ineens for clamping seid plates together.

fl. in s. skeleton tower of the character described, in combination, e series of ifipright" taibuler legs converging 'from the bottom. upward end hsv-ing their upper ends expended, s plete hevii'ig e series of openings receivingl the upper ends of the tubular legs, the upper ends et seid openings llerii'igupiverdly and ilitting upon exj'ienled ends, the lower end ot seid openings being elongeted redially to permit the lower ends of the tubular legs to be brought into parallel position to each other, end ineens for securing the expended ends ln their respective openings.

e tower of the class described, the combination with e series of upwardly-converging tubular lees having their upper ends expended, ay plete having e. series oi upwerdly- .Gering openings receiving 'and kfitting upon the expended ends 'or the leg-s, e second plate having holiow conical hubs fitting 'within seid. expended end-sof the legs and means l'or clamping seid plates together, thereby wedg ing the conical hubs into seid expend ed ends. 4.o.

o. In e tower ofthe class described, the combination with e, series of Aupwardly-converging; tubular legs having their upper ends expended, s plete having e openings receivingr end fitting upon expended ents el: the tubular legs, e second plate having conicsl hubs fitting within'the expended ends of seid legs, means for clamping the plates to each other to wedve said hubs intov the ei;-y

pen'ded ends ot thetlegs', e third plettebeneeth tne firstnsmed plete and wedgig between and against the inner trices of the legs, end,

:ineens for movi ng said third piste enc-wise voi'f' the for the purpose described.

7. ln e, ltower oi' the character described, the combination of :i series of upwardly converging legs, u plete having ,eonicel hubs wedgingu within the upper ends of the legs, end ineens to clump seid plete in '.iperstive position. v

8, ln s tower oi the cherecter described, e series of u pWerdly-convergingtubular legs, e plete having` openings for receiving the upper ends oi' seid legs, a second plete having con- ?friil hubs Hedging into the upper ends ol Vseid eisen;

legs, and ineens for clamping seid plates to each other.

9. ln e tower of the class described, the combination with a series of 'upwardly-converging tubular legs, a plate having hollow wedge-shped projections entering the upper ends of seid legs, end meens for moving seid plete endwise.

10. in a tower of the class described, the combination with e series of upwardly-converging .tubular legs, e plate having hollow wedge-shaped projections entering the upper ends of seid legs, Ineens for moving seid plate endwise, s second plete fitting between and wedging against the inner feces of the legs when moved upwardly and ineens for clamping seid plates together, thereby Wedging the second plete between the legs and also .wedging said projections of the first-named plete into the coen ends of the tubes.

ll. A slreleton tower" having e series of upright tubular legs composed of sections errenged end to end, the meeting ends of each leg-section being expended, e bushing tittin within the meeting ends of seid sections en provided with double conical surfaces 'fitting in `the expanded ends, clamping-sections embrecii'ig meeting ends end a U-sheped bolt clamping seid sections upon o posite feces ci the meeting ends of the tubo er sections, the inner bushing extending beyond the ends of the outer clamping-section to avoid buckling.

l2. in s skeleton tower of the class described, thc combination with e series of up right legs, each coinjiosed of sections on ranged end to end enc having their meeting A' ends expended, seperate collars having e wedging lit upon seid expanded ends and movable endwise, and means having ay wedging lit upon said collars to draw them endwise toward cach other.

13. In e skeleton tower of the cless described, the combination .with e series of upn right legs, euch comaosed of sections erranged end to end sin having their meeting ends expended, e bushing fitted In seid expended. ends, seperate collars each having e wodging t upon one of said expended ends, opposite clamping members having a, wedg- 'ingi'it'npon seid collars, and means to draw .seni members toward each other.

in e skeleton tower of the class de'- 4 scribed., the conibimitionwitho` seriosof up-v right legs, e'ech com o sed of sections arrenged end to end miv having their meeting ends expanded, e bushing litted in seid expended ends, seperate collars each having si wcdgin'g upon one of said expended ends, demping members inclosing seid collars ond having beveled shoulders engaging their outer ends, and means to drew seid members together, whereby the beveled shoulders wedge tho collars toward each other and 55ml each composed of sections ein nge@ who. end, the meetlng ends of md clamping members Sections, Said collars l1ev" eisen against tll'e expanded ends of 'the leg-sew tions..

15. In. a. skeleton towel' of theA class de-' seribed, the combination of series of tabu ler legs converging upwardly from the bese end the Lul/nier seo tiene being expanded, collars ttef upon the outer surface of the expaniled ends enel?` new ing e, biting-tooth engaging said 'expanded ends, said collars having beveled shoulders having beveleshoul' ders engaging the beveled shoulders of the sellers ang means 'for drewing seid clamping members together, whereby the eng-aging beveled shoulders @pensee to drew the meeL- ing ende of the tubule'f leg-sections Lewerfl eeell other.

16. in e Skeleton tower of elle clase ele-- se bed, the oombneion of e plm'elity of une Wedly--eonvergng legs, earch. composed Vof sections arranged end to end collars Vging upon the eg'ecen, ende of t a', leg-sections enel having biting-teeth engeging sind legj l ir ente? end ,D faces beveled in opposle directions, clamp ing members engaging seid beveled eees of .he collins :mi means for (im wing seid. e nming-seetons 'tog tllef around. bhe mjeeenl: ends of' the leg-seeons,'wlleew en lgegementef elle elenphlng-seeple in beveled end feces of the eelles overste to ilmw seid eollars and leg-eeeons owen-4l esel; einher.,

17. ln e skeleton 'bowel' of 'elle class (leseribeycl, the combination ol e lumlity of up- Wardly-eonvergng tubular egseeeb com posed of sections 'Vrang-ed end. Le end and. having 'their nlee'elng mils expended, hollow double-tspee ln'lslr-inge fitting in. the e @ended ende ox" elw l` seetone, teo'islefl eol lee fitting' upon "alle oufer feces of seid eX- pende/ and lmvng opposed beveled, end. feces, Glenn?, g `emlons 'lnelo nd seid collars and meeumg esule o the leg-eee and povaled, wll beveled fee engaging the beveled feces of the collars enfl means for drewililg said elem pl11gse(;,ions together upon the collars and :wound the adjacent. enils of lle leg-sections, elle hollow bushing having its ends tended beyond' elle ends of the clamping-eel,

i8. ln e. Lower ol m class (leeelbell, ille oombinesion ef e ple verging speeed e@ zentel o1-eeeeluflng e olen'lp:'\ gleg, eeen elw. opposite feces of same diemetree pl avoiding short', level 

